Kids' Speech Therapy

04/03/2026

Are you worried your child is delayed?

Hi everyone 💛

I’ve been feeling really worried about the upcoming NDIS / Thriving Kids changes starting in October, and what this could mean for our little ones.

At the moment, if a child has two or more developmental delays, families can apply for NDIS support to help cover things like speech therapy, OT, physio etc.

Once Thriving Kids starts in October, most children will not be eligible for this funding. Meaning parents will have to pay for therapy out of their own savings.

I’m sharing this in the hope I might reach even one family who could benefit from applying before the changes happen 🤍 I'm so worried about these beautiful children. I've seen first hand how fabulous early intervention is and how much it can change a child's life!

If you have concerns about two or more of the following areas for your child:

- Communication: Talking, understanding language, stuttering, speech sounds, following instructions.

- Social Interaction: Playing with others, joint attention, responding to name, engaging with adults/children, anxiety.

- Learning: Problem-solving, attention, copying, learning new skills, understanding routines.

- Mobility: Sitting, crawling, walking, running, climbing, balance, coordination.

- Self-Care (Self-help skills): Feeding, eating, dressing, toileting, sleeping, independence with daily tasks.

Please, please consider applying for NDIS now, while you still can. You might end up saving thousands!

You don’t need a diagnosis to apply, just concerns!

In order to get the application ready, call Northcott and ask to apply 1800 118 481

01/03/2026

Medicare has expanded funding for children and young people under 25 who need speech therapy.

Because this change is new, many families - and even some GPs - may not have heard about it yet.

And for some children, this could make a very real difference.

If a child in your life is experiencing:

• Stuttering
• Ongoing difficulty pronouncing sounds
• Persistent speech sound errors
• Childhood apraxia of speech or dysarthria
• Speech differences related to cleft lip and/or palate

There is now an expanded Medicare pathway that may help reduce the cost of assessment and therapy.

Until age 25, this includes:

✔️ Up to 8 assessment sessions
✔️ Up to 20 treatment sessions
✔️ $87.25 rebate per eligible session

That’s more sessions - and a higher rebate.

And we know how much this matters.

Communication shapes everything for a child.

When children can express their wants, needs and feelings clearly, they connect more easily. They make friends. They join in. They ask for help. They show what they know. They participate in learning with confidence.

When support is delayed because of cost, children don’t just ‘wait’. Sometimes they speak less. Hold back. Work harder than they should just to keep up. Confidence can quietly shrink.

That’s why I’m sharing this.

If you’re a parent it may be worth checking this update and having a conversation with your GP.

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is pass on information that could change a child’s trajectory.

25/01/2026

Experience matters in speech therapy 💬

An experienced speech therapist brings years of pattern recognition, clinical judgement and problem-solving that you just can’t fast-track.

With decades in the field, they’ve seen a wide range of presentations, know what works (and what doesn’t) and can adapt therapy to ensure your child is progressing well.

That means:
• Faster identification of the underlying issue
• Therapy tailored to your child, not just the textbook
• Confidence in knowing when to persist, change approach or refer on
• Clear, practical guidance for families

Therapists earlier in their careers can be enthusiastic and skilled, but time in the profession adds depth, efficiency and perspective that can make a real difference to outcomes.

With nearly 30 years as a speech therapist, I bring that depth of knowledge and clinical insight to every child and family I work with.

Sometimes, the years really do count.

25/01/2026

14/06/2025

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DK0hQ5TBY5V/?igsh=MXNvdmd4ejZlOWhmMA==

13/06/2025

The NDIA has released its Annual Pricing Review, and once again, there is no increase in price limits for speech pathology therapy for 2025-26. This marks the sixth consecutive year of frozen prices, despite rising costs and clear advice from Speech Pathology Australia regarding risk of market failure.

We know this outcome is deeply disappointing for members. It raises serious concerns for the sustainability of speech pathology services under the NDIS and participant access to vital care.

Speech Pathology Australia is:

> Advocating directly to the NDIA and government
> Calling for CPI-linked annual price indexation
> Engaging directly with the NDIA’s pricing review team
> Pushing for pricing to be determined by an independent authority
> Advocating for increased therapy price limits, and funding for supervision and training and group therapy.

We remain committed to fighting for fair, sustainable pricing for our profession.

👉 https://bit.ly/4jO3C4e

05/01/2025

https://www.kidsspeechtherapy.com.au/contact.html

07/08/2024

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS2JSfKqk/

2001 likes, 30 comments. “Is My Child Smart? Knowing the alphabet, numbers, and shapes is great, but it's not everything. Let's focus on developing their social skills and functional language during these crucial early years. 💬”

07/06/2024

Looking for an experienced speech pathologist in the Hills District, Sydney?

I specialise in supporting children in the early years (0-6). I work in partnership with you to help your child reach their full potential with their communication skills.

Enquire now:
alexiahyams@gmail.com
0421834460